As much as we depend on the Internet, most of us still rely on snail mail for a few things. We ship packages, send greeting cards, pay a few bills or our income taxes—and of course, receive junk solicitations—the old-fashioned way.

And a little mail can be a dangerous thing.

You probably don’t think about it when you’re running errands, but leaving mail unattended in your car is a safety hazard. Why? Because if you’ve attracted the wrong kind of attention, would-be robbers, stalkers, or worse can discreetly amble alongside your vehicle window and copy your home address from the mail lying on the seat. That’s one reason you should lock packages in the trunk and make sure mail always lies facedown.

And if you send your mail from your workplace mailroom, don’t leave it lying unattended on your desk, waiting for a pickup. Hand-deliver it to the mailroom or to a mail chute. If your desk can be accessed by the public or unfamiliar employees or contractors, your mail could be picked up by the wrong party. Again, these individuals could get your home address—or if you’re paying bills, your financial information. Better to spend time now taking a few extra steps than have to spend time later resolving a financial disaster.